Well, here we go. We knew this was going to happen, and it sure didn’t take long. Someone has dug up a Louie Giglio sermon from the mid-1990s, and it has been making the rounds among liberal blogs and websites. The sermon is so offensive that critics are saying that President Obama should never have invited Giglio to pray at the inauguration. What’s all the fuss about? I bet you already know—Giglio’s views on homosexuality.
Paul Raushenbush, senior editor of Huffington Post’s religion blog, says that he is angry that President Obama picked someone who “attacks gay people” and who says that gays “will be prevented from ‘entering the Kingdom of God’ and also that the ‘only way out of a homosexual lifestyle… is through the healing power of Jesus.'” In other words, Raushenbush faults Giglio for being a Christian.
Homosexuality and gay marriage are fast becoming the litmus test for whether one should be allowed to participate in public life. I’m glad that the President doesn’t seem to agree with that sentiment yet. But make no mistake. There are a growing number of people who do.
As the gay rights narrative has co-opted the civil rights narrative, an increasing number of people have come to see the gay marriage question as an equal rights issue. As that sentiment grows, invitations like this one will become increasingly impossible. A president would no more invite a practicing Christian to pray than he would a member of the KKK. They are morally equivalent.
The result is that whenever a Christian is “outed” as believing what the Bible teaches about sex, he is immediately labeled a bigot and marked as unfit for participation in polite society. And supporting liberal-approved causes such as ending sex-slavery—as Giglio does—won’t deliver anyone from that judgment.
If you want to hear the sermon in question, you can download it here or listen to it below:
[audio:http://turret2.discipleshiplibrary.com/8169A.mp3]As I said in my previous post, this would be a good time to pray for Giglio.
20 Comments
Beth Walters
But Rev. Giglio currently is of the hate-the-sin/love-the-sinner perspective, which some Christians (and others) find equally judgmental and counter to the words and practices of Jesus.
One doesn’t have to go back to the 1990s (not 1990’s, by the way, which would be the possessive of 1990) to “dig up” anything on his position.
Kamilla Ludwig
Denny,
Sermon, shmermon. It doesn’t matter because the Reformed Discernment ministries have pronounced Giglio’s Passion Conferences dens of heresy. Or some such horribleness. Or at least they think the whole thing is fascism. Or is it Marxism?
At any rate, Giglio’s bad and Piper is getting his name writ down in big crayon letters unless he repents for sharing the platform with those Marxist/fascist communitarians.
Michael Sweet
Kamilla,
Greetings. I usually enjoy reading your posts. However, as a reformed layman that tries to be discerning, I am offended by the ad hominem remark.
I guess I must really live out in the woods because I had never heard of Louie Giglio nor the Passion Conferences. That being said, my brief search via google does cause me to be at least a little skeptical. While God can do anything, I doubt that 60,000 people heard God’s voice. I am more inclined to believe that the vast majority of attendees remain unconverted but think they are heaven-bound. Only the Lord knows for certain.
Regarding Piper – I really enjoy his writing. Just yesterday I read his article on the Two Wills of God from 1995, and I am amazed at his brilliant writing. However, the fact that he shared the stage with Giglio (formerly under Andy Stanley), Beth Moore and others causes me great concern. While I try to be discerning with all of my reading, I do exercise greater caution with some authors. Going forward I will be far more cautious with Piper.
Sincere Regards.
Kamilla Ludwig
Que?
What ad hominem?
Akash Charles
It makes no difference though-Obama hates christians anyway!!-
In other western countries the litmus test for being Priminister is that you are not christian!!
Paul Reed
There is no such thing as a true Christian who would give an inauguration address for the current president. If Obama’s cronies thought there was a chance he would say something controversial, he wouldn’t have been picked. Sure, the pastor in question may have at one time preached a good sermon, but liberals don’t have anything to fear from Louie Gigolo.
Rick David
You cannot be serious. If you are, please listen to Giglio’s sermons.
Paul Cook
Just like there was no such thing as a true follower of God who would serve in the administration of Nebuchadnezzar.
Sunny Stufflebeam
Personally, although I don’t know his stuff well, I like Giglio… but I do wonder why he was chosen for the inauguration… if he is ‘safe’ for ‘them’ then I have go really look closer at everything he says.
Rick David
He came to the attention of President Obama because of the the heavy involvement of Passion City Church and the Passion Conferences in the fight against sex/slave trafficking.
Sam James
All intolerance must be stamped out.
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Robert I Masters
What Hath Light to do with the Darkness.The president is a wicked man.
I pray Imprecatory prayers for the President.
Marty Duren
If I may…
https://twitter.com/martyduren/status/288727220783034368
JD Hall
Giglio is rightly taking criticism from the right for the (partly) heretical line up at Passion, his claims of direct revelation and his anything but explicit articulation of the Gospel.
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Quena González (@reepitweep)
“I’m glad that the President doesn’t seem to agree with that sentiment yet.”
That seems overly generous, since the President presumably could have over-ruled his inauguration committee, resisted activist pressure (http://j.mp/RJX20L), and kept Giglio while distancing himself from Giglio’s views.
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